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‘Setting the record straight’




 

 

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Eyes are the windows to the soul.” What does this mean? And is it in the Bi­ble?

First of all, the meaning seems pretty obvious. By looking into the eyes of a person one can see their hidden attitudes and emotions, and even get insight into what the per­son is thinking. This is supported in many ways, such as in babies, for example. Ever noticed how a baby will stare directly into his mother’s eyes when being nursed?

When two men who are strangers are staring at each other in an angry fashion, what are they communi­cating with their eyes alone? “You eye-balling me, man?” On the other hand, when a man and woman stare at each other in a coy and seductive fashion, what are they communicat­ing with those “undress me” eyes?

Eyes are windows to the soul in­deed.

But is this phrase in the Bible? Well, no, it isn’t. (But that doesn’t mean, of course, that there isn’t any wisdom in it!) It does remind me of a saying that, arguably, inspired the phrase you’ve been reading about. And this saying is found in, you guessed it, the Bible… specifically in Matthew 6:22.

In Jesus’ words; “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good (your mind’s eye), your whole body will be full of light.” Wow! What does this mean?

It means that what you focus on is what determines whether your eye is good or not!

There’s both beauty and ugliness in the world, right? My question for you is, where’s your focus? If it’s on all that is beautiful in the world, then your eye will be like a lamp shining forth light! In contrast, Jesus went on to say that if your focus is on ug­liness, then you will have very little, if any, light to shine forth. (“Gar­bage in, garbage out” would be an­other way to put it.)

We both could be focusing on the same thing and you see beauty, yet I don’t! May God, who is the Source of all that is beautiful, help me!

— Paul and Danica Bartelme have been married for 22 years and have three children age 12 years and under. Jacob (12), Lily (11), and Luke (9). They’ve been residents of Escondido for 11 years and love Harley motorcycles and good music. They pastor Escondido’s very own Sanctuary Church.

— Any questions or comments re­garding the story? Got an idea for a story we should write? Email us at info@sanctuaryesco.org. Or check us out on the web at www.scesco.net.


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